Speed-changing mechanism.



A. L. BIKER. SPEED CHANGING MEGHANISM.

` APPLIUATIVON FILED rmx. 4, 1907. 9519515 Patented'JaI1.28,'l913L s'sHEETs-sHBBT 1.

nul-mu A'. L. BIKER; v SPEED CHANGING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEBA, @907. A

Patented 5311.28., 1913.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2. l

A. L. BIKER. SPEED CHANGING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED IEB. 4., 1907,

Patented Jan.28,1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- zlfg. 5.

. s'rans N ANDREW L. BIKER, 0F BRIDGEPORT, CUNNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE LOCOIVIOBIE "i COMPANY OF AlVIERCA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F WEST VRGINIA.

SPEED-CHANGING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2S, 1913.

Application filed February 4, 1907. Serial No. 355,582.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ANDREW L. BIKER, a. citizen of the United States, residing' at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Speed-Changing Mechanism,

vof which the following description, in connection with the accompanying' drawings, is Aa specification, like letters on the drawings representingr like parts.. I

This invention relates to speed-changine,r mechanism for changing' the relative speed between a driving and a driven member', and more particularly to mechanism of simple and compact form wherein a plurality of speedsmay be had by the shifting` of one or more intermediate working' parts.

In the illustrated form of my invention the same is shown as enibodied in the transmission mechanism which serves the piu'- pose of what is usually termed the transmission gear of an automobile, which transmission gear as is well-known is customarily imposed between the engine,-usu ally an internal con'ibustion enormer-and the driving` shaft or driving' wheels for the purpose of imparting to the latter any one of a plurality of speeds without necessary chang-e of engine speed.

My invention will be best umlerstood by reference to the tollowing` description when taken in connection with the accompany-ing illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while itsl scope will be more particularly pointed out in the apiimnded claims.

ln the drawings,-l4`igure l is a plan view partly in section showing' the principal Working parts of a transmission gear cmbodying one form of my invention; Figs. 2 to G, inclusive, show the principal speed'- changing `elements of the mechanism illustrated in Fie'. l in different positions oorrespondine' to dilferentselected transmitted speeds; Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7--7 in Fig. (3 showing the position ot' the reversing or idle gear; Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the relation of the controlling parts of the transmission gear illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a detail on an enlarged scale of the positioning pin for the controllingrods; Fig. 10 is an end elevation lookingr toward the front and showing the controlling levers and cont-rollingr rods, and Fig. l1 is Aa side elevation of the controllingr lever.

Referring to the drawings and to the transmission gear which l have chosen to illustrate the speed-changing mechanism of my invention, there is shown in Fig. 1 a

vhorizontal section of the principal working parts. These are assembled in a gear casing' or"1 .housing A, which as is usual in this class of devices, is split alone; a ymedian horizontal plane and the two halves thereof bolted one to another. In FiO'. 1 the casing. is shown with the upper half removed. This casing1 may be assumed, as is usual, to be mounted or carried upon the motor vehicle beneath the b'ody thereof. It contains suitable transmittinf.;` elements for transmittingfrom the engine shaft a and the engine beyond at the forward end of the vehicle (not shown), thro-ugh the stationary and movable 4clutch 'members l) and b', respectively, and the drivin;` shaft c any one of a plurality of speeds to the driven shaft (l. The driven shaft (l which carries Within the *asing the usual balance geaifl and without the casing' the brake wheel al, herein extends through the rear of the casing' at right angles to the axis of the driving' shaft c, or crosswise the vehicle, and is here assumed to be counter or parallel to the rear driving wheels with which itI may have suitable sprocliet chain or other connection. lt willI be obvious however that such shaft may have anv desired and appropriate relation to the driving' shaft. 1.', or may itself comprise the driving' axle for the driving wheels.` the identity of the driven member or the particular manner of communicating;f movement therefrom to the driving' wheels not being' oll essential importance to this invention. The engine and clutch members o. b may have anv usual oi rilinaijv construction, but these parts and their customary location. both with reference to' the trani-mission ,uear and the frame and other parts of the vehicle, beine' well understood by those skilled in the art, are not here specil'icallv illustrated.

Referring now more particularly to the speed-changinel elements of the transmis-.ion gear itself, the main driving` member is embodied in the driving` shaft o. which has a hearing' at the At'orvard end of the casing' and is axially alined with the engine shaft z so as to form in c'ect a continuation thineof with the interpilsition of the main clutch los v), b. This shaft may have-bearings of any suitable construction, the same herein com- .which is held against end-wise movement but is'keyed or splined to the driving shaft c, so as 'to er'mit a sliding or endwise movement of te latter withinthe sleeve.v An oil-tight cap 03 covers the bearing and various vSuit-able oil ducts are provided leading to the bearing surfaces ofA the several journaled parts to provide for free distribution of the lubricating oil, a liberal supply of which is usually maintained within the gear casing. The exteriorly projecting end of the driving shaft may have any suitable connect-ion with the engine shaft which will permit 'the occasional shifting or sliding movement required, and same is here shown as provided with a squared end c4' (shown broken away), such squared end having a telescopic fit within the end (not shown) of a tubular shaft b4 projecting from the rear' end of the movable clutch member Zi, so that'the driving shaft at alltimes driven with said movable clutch member, while permitting longitudinal or endwise movement relatively thereto.

Referring now to the opposite end of the casing and the driven shaft d, the latter is provided with a pair of bevel gears cl3 and d4, bolted side by side to the end of the balance gear housing. The smaller of. these bevel gears Z3 is in enr-tant mesh with the beveled pinion e, which latter is keyed oi" otherwise fixedly secured to the rear end of the intermediate shaft e', the latter being in. axial alinement with the driving shaftv if and having a j irojeeting forward end t2, which enters the open rear end of the said shaft and is revol'ubly but telescopically joui'- naled in the replaceable bushing or lining c5 fixedly held within the hollow end of the said -driif'ing shaft.

The highest speed is attained by clutching or couplingl the driving shaft directly to the intermediate shaft c. `For this purpose the inner or rear end of the driving Shaft formed of enlarged diameter and provid'ed with a plurality of suitably formed clutch teeth c, lt is also provided ith a circuinferentially grooved collar c7 which is engaged by an operating yoke (fg. W'hen the highest speed is desired, such yoke is moved rearwardly through controlling levers hereafter described, to carry the clutch teeth e into engagement with the corresponding teeth of a fixed clutch member c3 which carried upon the intermediate shaft- 'e, closelyadjacent the normal position of the movable clutch member cG- and the fixed clutch member e3, as well as the outer speed changing elements, are shown in Fig. l as occupying vthe relative positions which they assumewhen the transn'iission gear is idle or inactive and no movement is being transmitted from the engine to the driven shaft d. lVhen engagement is effected between t-he clutch teeth e and et; however,.the driving and intermediate shafts are directly coupled one to another and the engine drives the driven shaft (Z through the intermediate shaft and the bevel gears e and (Z3.

Meshing 'with the larger bevel gear d* upon the driven 4shaft is a beveled pinion f, the latter being bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the flanged end of a sleeve or tubular shaft f. rThe latter is mounted upon and con'centrically with the intermediate shaft e to rotate independently thereof, having a journaled connection therewith for a considerable portion of its length. The tubular shaftis mounted in ball` bea-rings f2, the latter sustained by a transverse wall within the easing. The long projecting bearing of the intermediate shaft within the end of the driving shaft and the long journaled support of the intermediate shaft within the tubular shaft gives an extremely rigid alineinent to the several elements and provides in etfectthree axially alined, independently rotatable shafts so inter-con ected as to be sustained in rigid alinement between the two sets of ball bearings shown.

To obtain the second or next to the highest speed, the driving shaft is clutched or coupled directly to the tubular shaft, so that transmission to the shaft is then through the bevel gear Z4 and the shaft. CZ at a reduced speed. For this purpose there is provided a sleeve fi", splined to the tubular shaft but capable of endwisev movementthereon, the normal position of the said vsleeve being, as

shown in Fig. l, adjacentfthe forward end of the said` shaft. The end of the said sleeve is cup-shaped or recessed and is prof mission is direct through the bevel gears f Y and' il* but ata reduced speed. As will be evident the intermediate shaft is turned idly.`

through its gearing connection to the driven shaft. when the tubular shaft is coupled to the driving shaft.

It will thus be seen that this transmisof speed.

sion gear instead of being limited to a single direct drive or coupling between the driving and driven shafts, has two such direct drives at different speeds. It will be evident that this principle may be extended to provide for any desired number ofdirect drives at different speeds by providing other intermediate members which may be coupled separately to the driving shaft.

In order to provide for other speeds through intermediate gearing in addition to the two separate rspeeds secured through the direct drive connections described, there is provided at the side of the driving shaft and the tubular and intermediate shafts a countenshaft g, suitably journaled in ball bearings in the casing, said counter shaft having a counter-shaft driving gear gt, which is driven. from a similar driving gear c", the latter carried by the sliding driving shaft c. rlhe counter-shaft gear g is in constant engagement with the driving gear 0, so that the counter-shaft is constantly driven by the driving shaft at a reduced speed. Adjacent its opposite end the counter-shaft is provided with other gears fiXedly secured thereto and driven thereby, these gears being employed separately to engage with one or more suitable sliding elements upon the tubular shaft and thereby drive the latter at .other and reduced rates Any appropriate number of such gears may be provided butherein they are three in number,-a large gear g2, an intermediate gear g and a small gear g4.

To obtain the third or next highest forward speed7 the large eountershaft g2 is caused to engage with a gear f5 carried by the sliding sleeve f3 upon the tubular Shaft,

this being effected by sliding the sleeve rearwardly or away from the driving shaft. this position of the sleeve the transmission is through the counter-sha ft, the larger gear g2, the smaller gear f5 and the tubular shaft f. f

' The next or lowest speed forward is secured by causing the intermediate countershaft gear g3 to engage with a second gear f", the latter being carried by a separate sliding sleeve f7 splined to the tubular shaft f. This sleeve is provided with the usual grooved collar and operating yoke whereby yit may be slid forwardly to cause engagement between the gear f and gear (13, the transmission then taking place at the slowest i speed through the counter-shaft, the small gear g and the large gear fo.

For the reverse speed the gear f may be slid in thi.` opposite or rearward direction to engage with an idle gear h. the relative endwise position of which is best shown in Fig. 7. The gear 7i, which is journaled in suitable bearings carried by the casing is constantly driven by the' small counter-shaft gear gt, and, when caused to mesh with the `suitable yokes which are attached respectively to the separate longitudinal slidable contro-lling rods z', and Z. The latter pass through the forward end of the casing and are supported insuitable bearings (not shown) for longitudinal sliding movement.

These rods are provided withv upturned forked portions i', 'e and Z', respectively, which are adapted each separately to receive and be engaged by the endof a depending arm or fihger m which iscarried by an overhead transversely slidable' sleeve m. The sleeve m is slidably and rotatively mounted upon a horizontal shaft mx sustained in brackets m2, m3, and provided adjacent one end at mt with a vertical controlling lever m, the handle of which is located adjacent the operator of the vehicle. It therefore follows that by movement of the handle laterally, the sleeve may te slid laterally and the finger m caused to engage with one or another of the three forked rods Aand by imparting a forward or back movement to the operating lever the sleeve and its finger are rocked to cause simultaneous movement of the rod in engagement with said finger. The standards m2 and m3 with their sup ported shaft mx are tixedly secured to the frame, so that when the sleeve m and its finger m are rocked by forward or backward movement ofthe controlling lever said finger causes forward or backward movement of the yoked rod with which it is then engaged.

Referring particularly to Figs. 8, 10 and 1l, the controlling leverpasses through an are-shaped controlling plate n, xedly secured to the frame-work of the vehicle. This plate is provided (see Fig. 8) with 'a transverse slot n and several longitudinal slots branching therefrom. These comprise the rearwardly branching slots 2; k2 and Z2 and the forward slots Z3 and Z13, the latter alining respectively with the slots' Z2 and rz.

lt will readily be understood that with the combined sliding and swinging movement the lever may he moved to seat itself in any one of the iivelongitudinal slots referred to. ln the inactive position ofthe gearing elements` the lever is maintained in said transverse central slot n between the abutting edgesl of the plate so as to be incapable of longitudinal swinging movement. The gear is then inoperative, the controlling rods beings.

ing maintained in their central position, as shown in Fig. ll, and the transmission elements shown in Fig. l, where no driving movement is t 'ansmitted to the driven shaftand the counter-shaft turns idly in its bearto engage the yoke z" upon the rod z' and move the latter, together with its attached driving shaft c rearwardly to'coupleothe driving shaft directly to the intermediate shaft and connect the transmission elements, as best shownv in Fig. 2f It will there be seen that with the counter-shaft turning idly in its bearings, the driving shaft c is directly coupled to cause transmission through the high speed bevel gearing c and da. v

To obtain the nest` highest speed the lever. is unseat'ed from the slot 2 and moved ontwardly into alincment with the slot 71:2 and then rearwardly to be seated in that slot. This causes the depending finger to engage the yoke 7s and draw the sliding sleeve f3 forwardly to couple the driving shaft directly to the, tubular sleeve, leaving the parts as shown in Fig. 3. Here, with the countershaft still idly turning, and the intermediate shaft disconnectedv from the driving shaft, the latter is-connectedfor direct drive, but at a. reduced speed, through the bevel gears f and d3.'

For the third speed forward the lever is seated in the forward slot lf3, which acts to slide the sleeve f3 in the opposite or rearward direction, causing the sliding gear f5 to mesh with the large counter-shaft gear r/2, thereupon giving the indirect drive through the counter-shaft to the tubular sleeve as shown by the relative position of the parts in Fig. 4, both clutches being disconnected at this speed.

For the lowest forward speed, the controlling level is .seated in the slot Z2, which causes the finger 'na to engage with and advance the controlling rod with the effect of causing engagement between the sliding gear f and the intermediate counter-shaft gear (fh-as best lshown in Fig. 5.

The rev arse speed. as will be obvious, is secured by seating the controlling lever in the forward slet Z2, thus acting to bring the sliding gear j into mesh with the idle gear z, as best seen in Fig. (i. i

It will thus be seen that the controlling lever can assume control over but one of the three sliding elements at any one time and that while this sliding element is operatively positionefl by movement of the lever to give the desired speed, the other sliding elements are inoperative-ly positioned, as

represented in Fig. 1, so as to vhave no effect upon the transmission. In order that they may preserve their inoperative positions when not under control of the controlling lever, a positioning device is provided for each rod, the same consisting herein of a vertically slidable spring-pressed pin ov (Fig. 9), having a beveled or pointed tip which rests against the upper edge of the corresponding rod and when the rod is properly positioned may be seated in one of several notches 0 eut in the upper edge of the rod. After the lever has been brought back to its mid position, and before it assumes control of another rod the pin 0 snaps into the registering notch and holds the rod against movement until again engaged by the depending finger m.

Myinvention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described, or to the particular application herein made of the saine, but extensive modifications and deviations from the form,

construction and'arrangement of parts may be made wit-hout departing ,from the spirit ofthe invention.

Claims.

l. A transmission mechanism for motor vehicles comprising a casing, a driving shaft, a sleeve having a bearing in said casing. said driving shaft being slidable longitudinally within said sleeve, a transverse driven shaft passing through said casing at the oppositel end thereof, an intermediate shaft in alinement with said driving shaft and having a telescopic. bearing in the end of the same, a bevel gear secured tothe opposite end of said intermediate shaft, a gear meshingl therewith upon the transverse shaft, a tubular shaft upon said intermediate shaft but. rotatable .independently thereof, abevel gear upon the tubular shaft of greater diameter than the aid first bevel gear, a second gear upon the transverse shaft meshing therewith, bearings in said casing for .said tubular shaft. near, one end adjacent the transverse shaft, a` fixed clutch member upon thejintcrmediate shaft between the drivingl shaft and the tubular shaft, a, clutch member upon the driving shaft adapted to engage the fixed clutch member when the shaft is slid toward 'the same, a clutch` member slidably mounted' upon the tubular shaft. but splined thereto and adapted to be slid into engagementwith.V

the clutch member of the driving shaft while still clearing the intermediate fixed .clutch member, a counter-shaft. at the side of said driving and tubular shafts, intermeshing goa rs upon said driving shaft and counter-shaft respectively to cause constant rotation of the latter, a plurality of gears on said counter-shaft driven thereby, a gear`- carried by the slidable clutch member and adapted to mesh with the counter-shaft gear i tubular shaft, suitable controlling levers and connections between the same and the driving shaft, tubular clutch member and sliding gear respectively for appropriately moving the same. i

2. rl ransniisson mechanism for motor vehicles eoi'nprising a driving shaft, a drive'i shaft, an intermediate shaft in alinement with said driving` shaft and having a telescopic bearing in the end of the same, a gearing connection between said intermediate shaft and driven shaft, a tubular shaft independently rotatable upon said intermediate shaft, a gearing connection also be- Atween said tubular shaft and said driven shaft, aI fixed clutch member upon the intermediate shaft', a clutch member upon the driving shaft, means| for causing relative movement between the same to directly couple the driving shaft to the intermediate shaft, a clutch member screwed to but slidable on the tubular shaft and adapted to engage the clutch member upon the driving shaft, therel'iy to couple `the driving shaft directly to the tubular shaft, a counter-shaft` driven from said driving shaft, a plurality of driven gears upon the counter-shaft, a gear carried by the slidable clutch member on the tubular shaft and adapted to be moved intoengagement with one of said counter-shaft gears, a second gear slidably mounted on the tubular shaft and adapted to be moved for engagement with a second counter-sha ft gear, au idle or reversing gear, a third counter-shaft gear in engagement with said idle or reversing gear, the latter being adapted to mesh with said second sliding gear on further and opposite Inoveinent of the latter, and suitable controlling levers and connections for controlling said several slidable elements.

3. Transmission mechanism for motor vehicles comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, an intermediate shaft in alinement with said driving shaft and having a telescopic bearing in the end ofthe same, a gearing connection between said intermediate 4shaft and driven shaft, a tubular shaft independently rotatable upon said intermediate shaft, a gearing connection also between saiddubular shaft and said driven shaft, a fixed clutch member upon the intermediate shaft, a clutch member upon the driving shaft, means for causing relative movement between the same to directly couple the driving shaft to the intermediate shaft, a clutch member secured to but slidable on the tubular shaft and adapted to engage the clutch member upon the driving Ishaft, thereby to couple the driving shaft directly to the tubular` shaft, a counter-shaft driven from said driving shaft, a plurality ofdriven gears upon the counter-shaft, a gear carried by the slidable clutch member on the tubular shaftand adapted to move into engagement with one of said countershaft gears, and a second gear slidably mounted on the tubular .shaft and adapted to bc moved for engagement with a second counter-shaft gear.

4. A speed-changing mechanism comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, an intermediate shaft in-alinement with the driving shaft and having a telescopic bearing in the end of the same, a gearin connection between said intermediate s aft and said driven shaft, a tubular shaft upon said intermediate shaft, a gearing connection between the same and said driven shaft, means for coupling said driving shaft to said intermediate shaft, a sliding clutch member uponA the tubular shaft for separately coupling the latter to said driving shaft to provide a different speed, a counter-shaft driven at a reduced speed from said driving shaft and provided with a driven gear, and a gear carried by said clutch member upon the tubular shaft and adapted to be moved into engagement with said counter-shaft gear -to drive said tubular shaft and said driven shaft at a reduced speed.

5. A speed-changing mechanism comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, an intermediate shaft in alinement with the driving shaft and having a telescopic bearing in y the end of the same, a gearing connection between `said. intermediate vshaft and said driven shaft` a tubular shaft upon said intermediate shaft, a gea-ring connection between the same and said driven shaft, means for coupling said driven shaft to said intermediate shaft, a sliding clutch member uponthe tubular shaft for separately couplingthe latter to said driving shaft to provide a different speed, a counter-shaft driven by said drivingr shaft at a reduced speed and provided with a plurality of driven gea-rs, a gear carried by said sliding clutch member upon said tubular shaft and adapted to be moved into engagement with om of said counter-shaft gears to provide 4a reduced speed for said tubular shaft, and a second gear also slidably mounted upon said tubular shaft and adapted to be moved into engagement with another counter-shaft gear. to driie said tubular shaft at a diiferent.

6. A speed-changing mechanism compris ing a driving shaft, a driven shaft, an in- .termediate shaft alined with said driving shaft, a' tubular shaft on said intermediate shaft, a clutch member upon said intermediate shaft, a clutch member upon said driv-` ing shaft adapted to engage therewith' for direct drive of the intermediate shaft, and a movable clutch member upon said tubular shaft adapted to engage with the clutch memberupon 'said driving shaft for a direct drive of the tubular shaft.

7. A speed-changing mechanism comprising a slidably mounteddriving shaft, a clutch member thereon, a shaft alined therewith provided With a stationary clutch mem ber adapted to be engagedby'the clutch member of said driving shaft, a tubular shaft upon said alining shaft and a cupshaped clutch member on said tubular shaft adapted to move into engagement- With the clutch member ofsa'id driving shaft While still clearing the clutch member of said alin` ing shaft. v

8. A speed-changing mechanism comprising a drlving shaft, a driven shaft, a plurality of intermediate driving members operatively related to said driven shaft, means for coupling directly said driving shaft to either of said intermediate members, a counter-shaft driven from said driving shaft, a

, gear driven by said counter-shaft, and a gear slidably mounted upon one of said intermediate members to engage with said counter-v shaft gearing and drive said'intermediate member at a reduced speed.

9. A transmission gearing for motor vehicles comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a plurality of intermediate shafts alined with said driving shaft operatively related to, said driven shaft, means for cou,- pling said driving shaft to either of said intermediate shafts, a counter-shaft constantly driven from said driving shaft at a reduced speed and having gearing connections with one of said intermediate shafts, and means for rendering said connections operative or inoperative to drive said intermediate shaft at one or more reduced speeds.

10; A transmission gearing for motor ve hicles comprising the driving shaft c, the driven-shaft fl, intermediate shafts e and f connected to drive the driven shaft, and the clutching devices c, ea and. f4 having provision for relative movement between each other. i

11. A transmission gearing having the shafts c, (l, f and e', the latter connected to drive the shaft d, the clutchi'n' device c", f4 and a having provision for re ative move ment between each other, and a counter-l shaft g with attached gearing.

12A speed changing mechanism comprising, in -mmbinatlom a driving shaft; a

mediate means adapted to be directlyconnected with the driving shaft for transmitting motion from the lat-ter to the," driven shaft at different speeds, driving connections between the intermediate means and the driven shaft; separately movable means for connecting said intermediate means with the driving shaft for said different speeds;

and unitary means to govern selectively said separately vcontrolled means.

14,' A speed' changii'ig mechanism comprising, in combination, a driving'shaft; a driven shaft; a plurality 'of co-axial intermediate means adapted to be directly connccted'ivith the driving shaft for transmitting motion from the latter to the driven shaft at different speeds, driving connections between the intermediate means and the driven shaft; additional power transmitting means between the driving shaft and the driven shaft; separately movable means for connecting said co-axial' intermediate means respectively with the driving shaft for driving the driven shaft at said different speeds; and means governed by one of said separately movable means for* throwing into operation said additional transmission means thereby to drive the driven shaft at still another speed. l y

15. A speed changing mechanism comprising, in combination, a driving'shaft; a driven shaft; a plurality of co-aXial transmission means intermediate the driving shaft and driven'shaft for transmittingl power from the former to the lat-ter at different respective speeds, driving connections between the said transmission means and the driven shaft; a single clutchwdevice on the driving shaft; and separate' relatively movable -clutch devices on the respective transmission means' arranged for alternative engagement with said single clutch device on the driving Shaft.

16; A speed changing mechanism com prising, in combination, a driving shaft;.a.

driven shaft; a plurality of transmission means intermediate said shaftsgvcluteh means for connecting the driving shaft with one of said'transmission means: additional, clutch means for connecting the driving' shaft with another of said transmission respective clutch means; and selective goveining means for saidA controlling means.

17. A speed changing mechanism comprising, in combination, a driving shaft; a driven shaft; a plurality of transmission means intermediate the driving and driven shafts; means to connect the transmission means respectively to the driving shaft; a gear mounted on the driving shaft; Ia countershaft, a gear thereon constantly engaged by the gear on the driving shaft whereby the countershaft is constantly driven froml the driving shaft; and means for connecting the countershaft to the driven shaft for driving the latter at a speed different from those of the -direct transmission means.

18. A speed changing mechanism com.

prising, in combination a driving shaft; a driven shaft; a plurality of intermediate `driving members; means for coupling directly said 'driving shaft to either of said intermediate members; a countershaft driven from said driving shaft; a gear driven by the countershaft; a gear lslidaloly mounted upon one of said intermediate members and controlled with saidcoupling means, to engage with the countershaft gearing.

19. A-transmission mechanism for motor vehicles comprising in combination a driving shaft, a driven shaft, driving connections between said driving shaft and driven shaft including a plurality of devices either of which is adapted to be directly coupled to the driving shaft to impart to the. driven sliaft a plurality of different speeds and including also separately controlled intermediate gearing for securing variable speeds between the driving and driven shafts, and means for controlling said intermediate gearing.

20.v A speed changing mechanism comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, driving connections between said driving shaft and driven shaftinchidiiig a pair of coaxial intermediate means adapted to di rectly connect with the driving shaft for transmitting motion from thelatter to the driven shaft, and means for directly connecting either ofsaid means with said'driving shaft and including also a countershaft with means for cqnnecting the same with the driving shaft and with said intermediate means to drive the driven shaft at either one or more reduced speeds, or in a reverse direction. 21. A speed changing mechanism coinprisin'g in combinationa driving shaft, a driven shaft, a plurality of co-axial, intermediate elements adapted to be directly connected with the driving shaft for transmitting motion from the latter to the driven shaft, driving connections between said intcrmediate elements and said driven shaft, a'countershaft, a plurality of independently movable elements for connecting said driving `shaft directly to either of -said intermediate elements or to connect the countershaft .with the driving shaft androne of the intermediate elementsand means engaging said independently movable elements to move the same. y

22. A speed changing mechanism comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a plurality of co-axial elementsadapted to be directly connected with the driving 'shaft for transmittin motion from' the latter to the driven sha t, driving connections between said coaxial elements and said driven shaft, a countershaft, and a plurality of-independently movable elements for'connecting said driving shaft directly to either one of said intermediate elements or to connect the countershaft with the driving shaft and one of the intermediate elements to drive said driven shaft, at one or more reduced specdsror in a reverse direction and means engaging said movable elements to move the same.

ln testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ANDREW L. BIKER.

lVitnesses iViu. S. TEEL, Jr., Tiioiirxs B. Boo'rii. 

